Outboard motor



Jan. 26, 1932. w w PECK 1,843,089

OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed March 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1. FIG. 5

WILLIAM W. PEEK W. W. PECK Jan. 26, 1932.

OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed March 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE WILLIAM W. PECK, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MUN CIE GEAR COMPANY, OF MUN CIE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE OUTBOARD MOTOR Application filed March 26, 1930. Serial No. 439,038.

This invention relates to improvements in outboard motors, a mechanism of this description comprising an engine, a vertically disposed pump and easing therefor, and the propeller structure, and the said mechanism being in a suitable frame. The frame in turn, which is horizontally disposed, is supported pivotally by a bracket which is attached to the boat. The power unit thus described, is

free to swing tiltingly when passing a submerged obstacle, and at the same time it is capable of being moved rotatively, whereby, for the purposes of steering, the angle of inclination of the propeller may be varied.

To provide improvements of construction and arrangement whereby the steering of the boat may be accomplished conveniently and easily is the general object of my invention.

Other and more specific purposes are to accomplish certain structural and mechanical features of improvement whereby improved economies in manufacturing may be had, and whereby the device in its entirety is strong, durable, relatively light in weight and is not liable to get out of order or repair.

The aforenamed objects and purposes, as well as other minor aims of my invention as they will presently appear, are accomplished by, and the invention is embodied in the new C()ll..-"[1ll('tl()l1, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompan ying drawings.

The several parts of the invention as they appear in the different views in the drawings are identified by suitable characters of reference.

Figure 1 is a front view of an outboard motor construction embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a side view of my invention as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 1.

Figure. at a sectional top plan view taken on line +i4 in Figure 3. V, Figure 5 is an enlarged side view, partly in cross section, of the upper portion of the frame and casing structure, including a portion of the engine crank case, and con'iprising the steering wheel and bracket connections.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the lower portion of the frame and easing structure including the gear casing, propeller and connected parts.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the intermediate portion of the frame and easing structure, showing in detail the passageways and the impeller means for forcing the water upwardly therethrough, and showing the coupling connection between the upper and lower driving shafts.

Figure 8 is a sectional top plan view taken on the line 88 in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional top plan view taken on the line 99 in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional top plan view taken on the line 101O in Figure 6.

Figure 11 is an enlarged cross section view taken on line 1111 in Figure 4.

My invention broadly stated, contemplates the combination with the engine, (which is mounted in the usual manner on a frame and which said frame in turn is horizontally disposed and pivotally supported on a bracket which is attached to the boat), of a support sleeve secured thereto at position concentric with the engine shaft, an upright casing swiveled on the sleeve and having its upper portion to surround the said sleeve, a member secured to the upper portion of said casing, and in connection with which a tiller is operable, a gearing and propeller mechanism carried by the bottom of said casing, and power transmitting connections between the engine shaft and said propeller gearing. By this general arrangement and combination, there is rendered practicable a movement rotatively, through the arc of a complete circle or any part thereof, of the propeller mecha msm.

My invention in a form of embodiment suitable for an engine of the water cooled class, consists of a centrally bored head piece adapted to be secured to the engine block in position concentric with the engine shaft, there being portways through the inner portion of the head piece and communicating with the water passageways of the engine, and the said head piece having a machined shank, a centrally bored similarly ported lower head piece which is provided with a counter bore, and with an annular flange having a bearing face on its top side, a sleeve having its lower end secured to the lower head piece, a casing to surround the said sleeve and having a flanged collar at its lower portion provided with an annular bearing face to bear on the bearing face of the said lower head piece, a pulley hubbed to the upper portion of the said casing, and which is journaled in connection with the shank of the upper head piece, connections to rigidly secure the upper end of the sleeve to the shank of the upper head piece, a tubing to seal the space between the said/upper head piece and the said lower head piece, a lower casing section hav ng 1nlet openings at its lower portion, and wh1ch is provided at its upper end with a circular cavity of diameter coincident with the diameter of the said lower head piece, an arcuate passageway in the vertical wall of saidcavit-y, a gear casing and propeller mechanlsm scoured to the lower casing, a journal bearing sleeve at the upper and at the lower portion of said casing, a tubing to seal the space between said bearing sleeves, a lower driving shaft journaled in the lower casing section and which is geared to the propeller mechanism, an impeller device secured to the said shaft and operable in said cavity to impel the water from the lower casing and through the portways of the lower head piece, a coupling device secured to the upper end of said shaft, a' ring packing between the said coupling device and the counter bore of the lower head piece, a closure ring on top of said ring packing, and-an upper driving shaft whose lower end is articulated with said coupling and whose upper end is articulated with the engine shaft.

The motive part of the power plant may consist of a two-cylinder engine of the 0011- ventional type shown, and which comprises the frame or crank case A, the opposed waterjackcted cylinders B and B, the fly wheel C, and the several other usual parts as shown. The frame member 1 to which the engine is secured is supported by pivot pins 2 and 2 of abracket member having a body portion 3, the arms 4 and the set screws 5. The manner of installing the bracket on the stern board D of the boat is so well known as to need no description. The guidcways 10 in the intea counter bore 16. Extending rom the counter bore and through the said head piece 15 are portways 17 which communicate with the water passages G of the engine block.

20 designates a sleeve member lower head piece. This head piece has an upper counter bore 21 and portways 21a, and is provided with an annular flange having a machined top face 23. 25 designates a tubular sleeve member whose lower end is secured in the counterbore 21 of the said lower head piece 20. Adapted to surround and spaced slightly apart from said sleeve member 25 is a column like envelope which I designate as the upper casing 26. Secured to the lower end of this upper casing is a foot piece 27 provided with a machined bore 28 to engage slidingly the face of the lower head piece 20. The said foot piece 27 is provided also with an annular machined bearing face 28a, and a flange face 29, whose functions will be presently referred to.

30 designates a pulley having a peripheral V shaped groove, and provided with a hub of the relative depth shown. This hub 31 in its lower portion is secured to the top portion of the upper casing section 26. The upper portion of the bore of the said hub has bearing engagement with the machined shank 15a of the head piece 15 as will be presently referred to. The several parts referred to in the foregoing description, in their assembled status may be designated as the upper assembly. A hole 33 provided in the pulley hub 31 permits of the use of suitable hand tools in securing the upper end of the sleeve 25 by rivets 35 to the shank of the head piece 15. Completion of this upper assembly consists in forcing the aluminum tubing 38 into place, its end portions being in metal to metal frictional union with the bores of the upper head piece 15 and the lower head piece 20.

4O designates the lower casing. This casing is of oblong formation in cross section as shown in Figure 10, andhas the water inlet openings 41 and bottom flange 42. Formed integral with the upper end of this casing is a flange portion 43 which provides a circular cavity 44 with floor 45. The diameter of this cavity is coincident with that of the sleeve lower head piece. The face 46 of the said flange portion is adapted to rest securely in engagement with the under face 29 of the flange of the foot piece 27. Opening from the vertical wall of the said cavity 44 is an arcuate passageway 50 which is of the length and form in me 9.

At the upper and lower portions of the said casing are integrally formed housings 51 and 52. Secured in the lower housing 52 is a journal boxing 53. In an annular groove in said boxing the lower edge of a tubing section 54 is seated. A boxing 55 which is retained in the said housing 51 has a suitable annular groove which is occupied by the upper edge of the said tubing 54 when the said boxing 55 is secured in place.

The propeller mechanism comprises the usual propeller 59, shaft and bevel gearing 61 which is retained in casing (32 that is secured to the flange of the lower casing 40 by cap screws 63. A lower driving shaft (35 is ournaled in the boxings 53 and 55 and its bottom end is secured to the gearing of the propeller mechanism. Secured to the upper end of said shaft 65, by a cross pin (56, is a coupling head 67. Secured to the lower body portion of said coupling head is an impeller wheel 68. The inclinations of the vanes (SS) of this impeller wheel are as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 9. The upper body portion of said coupling head 67 is provided with a diametric groove or slot 70 the function of which will be presently referred to.

The several parts just described may be referred to as the lower assembly. Between the bore of the lower head piece 20 and the face of the coupling head 67 is interposed the packing ring 71. A brass bearing ring 72 is provided at the rim portion of the lower head piece 20, and at the flange of the foot piece 27 is provided a suitable gasket 73. The said assemblies are secured together by the cap screws 75 and 75. An upper driving shaft 84 has a cross key 85 of its lower end to engage the slot 70 of the coupling head 67. A cross key 86 at its upper end is adapted to engage a slot therefor in the engine shaft E. The unitary structure thus described is held in proper position with relation to the engine by means of cap screws 90 which are passed through the flange of the head piece 15, the upper assembly or support sleeve structure being thus secured to the frame, and the lower assembly or casing structure being capable of rotative movement. The engine structure being fixed in its position on the frame, the starting of the engine is accomplished more easily than in outboard motors of the type wherein the engine is a part of the swiveled unitary structure.

Secured to the underside of the engine frame 1, and at a position adjacent each side of the pulley, is a bracket 77, having a slot 78. Complemental arcuate resilient bandlike strips 79, arranged as shown in Figure 4, have their outer T shaped ends engaged in said slots. Their proximate L shaped ends are united by a bolt and springs 81 and 81. By this arrangement the rope 82, which plan as shown in Figoccupies the serrated groove of the steering wheel, is guarded. At the same time there is exerted against said rope a sufficient retentive force to hold the rope against slippage, and to stay the wheel against tendency to oscillatory vibration. The steering rope may be endless, and may be arranged to be passed over a reel (not shown) on such auxiliary steering wheel as may be desired on the boat, or it may be of a given length, its ends being fastened to the sides of the boat. If it is preferred to steer with a handle, a steering lever (not shown) may be applied to the socket lug 30?) formed integral with the underside of the steering wheel 30.

By my improved steering means, the variation of incline of the propeller axis, and the reversing of the action of the propeller may be had from any point in the boat. This is of particular advantage in pulling away from the dock, and in maneuvering the boat within restricted areas.

In fastening the motor in place it is desirable that a lag screw may be set to engage the slot 3a (see Figure 1) of the bracket to hold same centered on the stern of the boat. With a tightening of the set screws 5 the bracket will have been secured in place. The height should be such that the pump casing is submerged to the dotted line W shown in Figure 3.

To steer the boat from any point therein, the steering ropes are grasped, one in each hand. By pulling either of the ropes, the direction of the travel of the boat is changed. Preliminary to reversing of the action of the propeller mechanism, it is necessary to tighten the pivot pins 2. To reverse the direction of travel of the boat, one of the ropes is pulled until the steering wheel will have moved through one half of a revolution. The action of the propeller will then have been reversed, and the boat caused to be moved in opposite direction accordingly. The propeller is held in place on its shaft by a pin 91 of relatively soft metal. In case of an accident interfering with the free rotation of the propeller, the said pin is sheared off, thereby preventing any injury to the other parts of the mechanism. To restore the pro peller mechanism to operating condition, the propeller is removed. and the sheared off pin is easily replaced.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an outboard motor, in combination with the engine fixed on its support frame, a double walled sleeve member having a top and a bo tom head, each of which has passageways therethrough, the upper head being adapted to be secured to the water jacket of the engine. and the bottom head being provided with an annular support flange, a casing to surround said sleeve member and having a foot portion mounted rotatably on the said support flange, a pulley hubbed to the upper portion of said casing and which is in j ournaled engagement with the upper head of said sleeve member, a double walled lower casing having a closed bottom and being prothe bottom head of the sleeve member, an improvi ed. witha counter bore and with an peller device operable in said cavity, to impel the water upwardly, packing between the impeller device and the bottom head of the sleeve member, packing between the impeller device and the inner wall of thelower casing, connections to hold the upper casing and the lower casing in united relation, a propeller and its gearing carried by the lower casing, and power transmitting connections between the propeller gearing, and the impeller device, and the engine shaft.

2. In an outboard motor, in combination with the engine fixed on its support frame, a double walled sleeve member having a top and a bottom head each of which have passageways therethrough, the upper head being adapted to be secured to the water jacket of the engine, and .the bottom head being provided with an annular support flange, a casing to surround said sleeve member and having a foot portion mounted rotatably on said support flange, a pulley hubbed-to the upper portion of said casing and which is in journaled engagement 'with the upper head of said sleeve member, a double walled lower casing having a closed bottom and being provided with inlet openings in the outer wall, the upper "end of said casing being open and provided with-an annular cavity having an arcuate portway in its vertical wall and which communicates with the passageways of the bottom head of the sleeve member, journal bearings integral with the interior of the lower casing, a propellcrand its gearing carried by the lower casing, a lower drive shaft to actuate said gearing and which is journaled in the lower casing, a coupling member on said shaft, an impeller device secured to said coupling member and operablein said cavity, packing between the said coupling member and the bottom head of the aforesaid sleeve, and an upper shaft between said cou: pling member and the engine shaft.

3. In an outboard motor of the kind described, in combination with the engine fixed on its support frame, a centrally bored head piece adapted to be secured in position concentric with the engine shaft, there being passageways through the said head piece and communicating with the water passageways of the"-engine, and the said head piece having a machined shank, a centrally bored similarly ortwa'yed'lower head piece which is annular flange, a sleeve secured in the upper eounterbore of the lower head piece, a casing to surround the said sleeve and which is provided with a foot portion to rest rotatably on the flange of the said lower head piece, a pulley hubbed to the upper portion of said casing and which is journaled on the shank of said top head piece, connections to unite the upper end of the sleeve with the shank of the upper head piece, a tubing to seal the space between said upper head piece and the said lower head piece, a lower casing having inlet openings and provided at its upper end with a circular cavity of diameter coincident with the diameter of the lower head piece, there being an arcuate portway in the vertical wall of said cavity, a gear casing and propeller mechanism secured to the lower casing, a journal housing at the upper and at the lower portion of said casing, a tubing to seal the space between said housings, journal boxings in said housings, a shaft journaled therein and which is geared to the propeller mechanism, an impeller device driven by said shaft and operable in said cavity, a coupling device secured to said shaft, a water packing between the coupling device and the lower head piece, a closure ring on said packing, an upper driving shaft articulated between the said coupling device and the engine shaft, and connections to secure the upper head piece to the engine block.

4. In an outboard motor, in combination with the engine and a frame upon which it is secured,a double walled sleeve member having a top and a bottom head, each of which have passage ways-therethrough, the upper head being adapted to be secured to the water jacket of the engine, and the bottom head being provided with an annular support flange, a casing to surround said sleeve member and having a foot portion mounted rotatably on the said support flange, a member secured to the upper portion of the casing and in connection with which said member a tiller may be operated, a double walled lower casing having a closed bottom and being provided with inlet openings in the outer wall, the upper end of said casing being open and provided with an annular cavity having an arcuate portway in its vertical wall and which communicates with the passageways of the bot-. tom head of the sleeve member, an impeller device operable in said cavity, to impel the water upwardly, packing between the impeller device and the bottom head of the sleeve member, packing between the impeller device and the inner wall of the lower easing, connections to hold the upper casing and the lower casing in united relation. a propeller and its gearing carried by the lower casing, and power transmitting connections between the propeller gearing, and the impeller device, and the engine shaft.

WILLIAM W. PECK. 

